Malcolm Ajei
🕯️Content Warning: Mentions of past suicide attempt, emotional betrayal, and family trauma. Handled with emotional nuance but may be sensitive for some readers.
Despite everything, watching my family just be together with such ease, after years of distance, warms my heart. It's as if we've returned to the days we spent by the ocean at our other home. Were Cornelius, Aspen, and Zira right when they said something wasn't right with her soon after she came to the capital? That her secrets and little lies of omission were dangerous to her well-being and the enclave.
Hiding my inner turmoil, I kept a pleasant expression on my face. I didn't doubt that Davi could sense some of my emotions through our bond, and Nyota is being contemplative in our kaelin bond. That can be either a good or bad thing. Him being contemplative could mean he is processing our situation or deciding how he will drive Koba methodically insane once he is free of magical sleep. From just the preliminary investigation into Nyxara's matters, and what little we've already found is truly rage-inducing. The Dillard Enclave will bleed for their actions against my daughter. A soft approach first; if that isn't enough, we will make it clear we will claim what is owed us in other ways.Â
 Davina's gentle touch on my thigh grounded me in this moment of letting myself feel all my emotions within the confines of Aspen's suppression. I almost lost my Emberling. I had been ignoring my instincts. She had told me over the years that the intensity of my aura frightened her, so I tried to give her space to adjust.Â
That day, before she left for the woods, she hugged me tightly. I was the last to see her. Wordlessly, she stared deep into my eyes with sad determination. Only now do I realize she was saying goodbye. When we were looking for her, everyone admitted she found each one of them either the day before or the day of to wordlessly give them a goodbye hug.
She wasn't intending to return to us. The cold realization made me feel like I couldn't breathe for a moment before the warm squeeze of my mate's hand and the chuckles of my sons brought me back to the present.The feeling of Nyota sending comfort through the bond helped pull me back from the edge even more. Yet not hearing or feeling my Emberling, my eyes searched for her. When I saw her looking thoughtfully between me and the boys, I sighed in relief.
 It is a blessing from the Creators that my sons didn't ignore their instincts that day. I am glad they sent Wraith after her. He arrived in time to get her down from the Eldergloom Tree before too much time had passed. He kept her safe until she literally ran into Aspen. I will forever thank the Creators for guiding me to that feral orphan I took under my wing.
 We could probably use him as a peer training partner when Keir teaches her our combat styles. Also, it will give him a way to be more naturally around her instead of constantly in the shadows. His next official assignment of being her secret guard will be made easier if we introduce them during training.
"I have one last thing I want to ask about," Emberling's soft voice brought me out of my musings and all other conversations to an end. "What is the estimated time you expect it will take for the engagement with Koba to be dissolved? Aspen spoke of contracts and negotiations. You all have in various ways implied that we can't just do what we want without consequences."Â
So, I want to know how long until I'm no longer personally connected with Koba and what exactly is expected of me during the dissolution process?" Her firm and direct tone is so reminiscent of Davi that I could almost see Davi sitting there instead of my Emberling.
I can sense and smell my mate's smug satisfaction as she rearranges herself against me, moving me around until I was holding her against my chest while we lounge. She always instinctively knows what I need before I even realize it. Having her as my fated mate is truly another blessing from the Creators. They have often favored me over the years despite my failure with Emberling.
Lux, Aspen, and Keir's faces are all carefully neutral, but the weight of their combined aura and scents told me exactly how much they want to present their sister with the body parts of the Dillard enclave in gift boxes.
"The rough estimate, including time for negotiations to be difficult, is a year. If they don't be difficult, the time frame will be shorter, but I doubt Xerxes Dillard knows how to not be difficult, so expect things to take a year." I did the math and a preliminary checklist last night when I couldn't sleep. Even after doing that, it took me several damaged training rooms and a spar with Rakesh to help me quiet my violent thoughts.
 If Nyota wasn't sleeping, I could have sparred with him instead of damaging the training rooms so badly. I was almost tempted to wake him, but the fallout wouldn't be worth it in the short term. The damage costs will be coming out of my personal accounts according to Rakesh, the amused bastard. Though it makes sense, even if that means I won't be able to add to my weapon collection this month.
"And if it takes longer than a year?" The carefully neutral tone and lack of eye contact reminded me of the secretive and lying Emberling, whom I had become familiar with over the past few years. We lost her trust somewhere along the way. Not just through our words but also through our actions, we will show her that we will not make the same mistakes.
"If they refuse to peacefully dissolve the engagement by this time next year, we will resort to whatever means are necessary within our moral code to convince them to make the right choice. We will not harm innocent people and we will not betray the region, but other than those two principles, we can be flexible in our methods." Lux growled, and I knew if he were physically present, his growl would have sent vibrations through our bodies. Someone is channeling his Azrail today. I chuckle inwardly that somehow that crazy asshole is still being represented by our eldest son.
"A soft approach followed by hard tactics," Emberling nodded, her expression thoughtful. She jotted a few things down as she spoke. "Although I would love for everything to be resolved immediately, I understand that it's not just about me. Therefore, I can be patient while we untangle ourselves. Now, about my other question, what expectations will be placed on me during this dissolution period?" Her confident demeanor returned as she made eye contact with us, her gaze settling on Davi.
"Well, hopefully, nothing will be expected of you outside of refraining from killing or permanently harming him. Be cordial, but not a doormat, especially if you encounter his mother, the Matriarch, with him. They may request that you go on a few dates with Koba to ensure that this is serious. I assume you are completely against any reconciliation?" Davi spoke casually as she traced calming sigils on my arm. Relaxing even further, I sank deeper into the sofa, listening attentively to the conversation.
"I will fail to resist the urge to permanently maim or kill him if I am forced to socialize with him. I strongly advise against entertaining any such requests." She said that so casually that I almost want to put him in her path just to witness the fallout. Of course, only after we have re-forged her with the necessary skills, making her efficient and effective in defeating him, would be the best course of action.Â
I take a few deep breaths and embrace the calming sigils that still faintly shimmer on my arm to soothe the rising surge of blood and chaos within my spirit. It would be a magnificent spectacle that I might just have to orchestrate, and it would be the fitting climax to complete her training.
"We will keep that in mind, Moonbeam. I wasn't sure how to bring this up, but now seems like the most appropriate moment in our conversation to do so." Aspen leans forward, using a remote to turn on the tv. Soon, he has a slide presentation pulled up on the screen. "For your intellectual and emotional well-being, I would like to explain what a hollow bind is and why we reacted the way we did yesterday when we discovered that you had been subjected to such a bond for the past two years."